Dispensing device for dispensing liquid substance from a pouch

ABSTRACT

A dispensing device is adapted to dispense metered amounts of a liquid substance from a pouch (10) made from a pair of superposed flexible sheets. The pouch defines a liquid containing chamber (15-17) and a narrow liquid discharge passage (18) communicating with the chamber at a junction position (34) and being self-sealing at that position. The device comprises liquid discharge mechanism (23, 27) for applying a pressure to the liquid substance present in the lower part of the chamber (16). The liquid discharge mechanism comprises a devices (31) for applying an inwardly directed pressure to a pouch wall closely adjacent to the junction position (34) so as to increase the angle (62) defined between the pouch wall and the plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis (13) of the discharge passage (18), whereby the discharge passage (18) may be opened. The dispensing device may also comprise a mechanism (35, 43) for bending the discharge passage (18) to an angular configuration so as to close the discharge passage when an amount of liquid has been discharged.

The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensingmetered amounts of liquid substance from a pouch or bag made from a pairof superposed flexible sheets sealed together along the contour thereofso as to define between the sheets a chamber for containing the liquidsubstance and a narrow liquid discharge passage communicating with saidchamber at a junction position and being self-sealing at that position.

Such pouches or bags may be designed such that when the liquid chambercontains a liquid substance the liquid discharge passage will beself-sealing at the junction position, vide for example Norwegian patentNo. 96943.

Swedish patent application published under No. 431608 discloses a pouchor bag of the above type, especially for containing a viscous liquidproduct, and a dispensing device for dispensing metered portions of theliquid product therefrom. This known dispensing device comprises anactuating member which may be moved between an inactive position inwhich it pinches and seals the lower end of the liquid dischargepassage, and an active position in which it pinches and seals a passageinterconnecting a main chamber and a metering chamber of the pouch andapplies a pressure to the metering chamber so as to discharge liquidproduct therefrom.

The international patent application published under No. WO 93/12981discloses a pouch or bag of the above type which is adapted to contain aviscous product and which contains pumping means arranged adjacent tothe discharge passage of the pouch.

The present invention provides a dispensing device of the above typewhich may be used for dispensing liquid products not only from pouchesor bags containing viscous liquid products, but also from self-sealingpouches or bags containing liquids of relatively low viscosity, such aswater, aqueous solutions, alcohol, etc.

The dispensing device according to the invention comprises means forpositioning the pouch or bag containing the liquid substance so that thedischarge passage is downwardly oriented, and liquid discharge means forapplying the pressure to the liquid substance present in a part of thechamber adjoining the discharge passage so as to discharge an amount ofliquid through said passage.

The present invention is based on the finding that when the pouch or bagfilled with a liquid substance is depending freely with the dischargepassage oriented downwardly the opposite sheets or walls of the passagedefines (in a cross-sectional view) an obtuse angle with the centralplane of the downwardly directed discharge passage and of the adjacentchamber part, and that the self-sealing effect of the pouch at saidjunction position is reduced when such angle is increased. Furthermore,an increase in the inner liquid pressure of the pouch tends to reducethe said angle and thereby to increase the self-sealing effect of thedischarge passage.

According to a first aspect the dispensing device of the invention ischaracterized in the liquid discharge means comprise passage openingmeans including means for applying an inwardly directed pressure to oneof said flexible sheets forming a chamber wall, closely adjacent to saidjunction position so as to increase the angle defined between said oneflexible sheet and a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis ofthe discharge passage and thereby to reduce or counteract theself-sealing effect of the discharge passage of the pouch. When theself-sealing effect has been reduced or counteracted by such inwardlydirected pressure, liquid product may be dispensed through the dischargepassage by applying a suitable pressure to the liquid substance withinthe pouch.

It has also been found that when the pouch or bag is made from oppositeflexible sheets which are relatively stiff, the discharge passage of thepouch or bag may be opened and closed merely by transversely moving ortilting the lower part of the pouch defining the discharge passage.Therefore, according to a second aspect the dispensing device of thepresent invention is characterized in means for bending the oppositesheet parts, which define the discharge passage therebetween,transversely into an angular configuration, when the desired amount ofliquid has been discharged. Thus the discharge passage may be opened andclosed by bending the opposite sheet parts in relation to a centralplane of the said chamber part between positions in which the dischargepassage is substantially aligned with and out of alignment with saidcentral plane, respectively.

When the pouch or bag is fixed to the dispensing device only at itsupper end, the vertical position of the lower end of the dischargepassage will inevitably change substantially when the liquid product isbeing dispensed from the pouch, because the pouch will become lessdistended as the product is being dispensed. It would, however, beadvantageous to maintain the lower end of the discharge passage insubstantially the same vertical position, for example to restrict thevertical movement of the lower end of the discharge passage to less than10 mm when a pouch or bag completely filled with liquid product is beingtotally emptied

The pouch positioning means preferably comprises suspension means forengaging with and securing portions of the pouch at a positionintermediate of the upper part of the pouch and said chamber part, sothat the lower part of the vouch may depend freely from the suspensionmeans. Preferably, the suspension means are positioned above andadjacent to said chamber part.

According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a dispensingdevice for dispensing metered amounts of liquid substance from a pouchmade from a pair of superposed flexible sheets sealed together along thecontour thereof so as to define between the sheets main chamber and asmaller metering chamber for containing the liquid substances saidchambers being interconnected by an interconnecting passage and a narrowliquid discharge passage communicating with the metering chamber at ajunction position and being self-sealing at that position, said devicecomprising means for positioning the pouch containing the liquidsubstance so that the discharge passage is downwardly oriented, andliquid discharge means for applying a pressure to the liquid substancepresent in a part of the chamber adjoining the discharge passage so asto discharge an amount of liquid through said passage, the dispensingdevice being characterized in that the pouch positioning means comprisesuspension means for engaging with and securing portions of the pouch atopposite sides of the interconnecting passage so that the lower part ofthe pouch may depend freely therefrom, the mutual spacing of thesuspension means being so small that closing of the interconnectingpassage is counteracted.

When the pouch or bag contains a viscous product which is inclined toadhere to the inner surfaces of the flexible sheets from which the pouchis made, it may be desirable to promote flow of the liquid substancefrom the upper part of the chamber downwardly into the lower chamberpart adjacent to the discharge passage.

According no a fourth aspect of the present invention the dispensingdevice is characterized in means for applying an inwardly directedpressure to and/or for transversely moving the upper part of the pouchwhen a discharge operation has substantially been terminated. Suchpressure and moving means may comprise a moveable abutment member orabutment plate engaging with one of the pouch sheets, and the pressuredischarge means may be adapted to move the abutment member and the upperpart of the pouch transversely when the discharge operation has been oris about to be terminated

In the preferred embodiment the pressure and moving means comprise apair of moveable, spring biased abutment members engaging with oppositesheets of the upper part of the pouch. These abutment members may, forexample, be hinged at their upper end and may embrace the upper part ofthe pouch.

The passage opening means may further comprise means for mutuallydisplacing the opposite sheets of the pouch in the axial direction ofthe discharge passage. It has been found, that such mutual displacementof the opposite sheets also tends to reduce or counteract theself-sealing effect of the pouch, probably because the mutualdisplacement increases the angle defined between one of the sheets andthe central plane of the discharge passage as explained above.

The pouch or bag containing the liquid product may comprise a meteringchamber connected to a main chamber via a interconnecting passage andarranged between the main chamber and the discharge passage In suchcase, the liquid discharge means may be adapted to pinch theinterconnecting passage between the main chamber and the meteringchamber. In the preferred embodiment, however, the discharge means areadapted to pinch the pouch or bag so as to separate a desired chamberpart from the remaining part of the chamber along a pinching line and togradually compress said chamber part from the pinching line cowards thedischarge passage, whereby the liquid product contained in said chamberpart is expelled therefrom through the discharge passage.

It has been found, that if the opposite sheet or wall parts of the saidchamber part are pressed together so that the inner surfaces of theopposite sheet parts are pressed into intimate mutual contact when theliquid product is discharged they tend to remain adhered to each other.This means, that this chamber part is not always properly refilled byliquid product so as to be ready for discharging a further meteredamount from the pouch or bag. According to the present invention theliquid discharge means are preferably adapted to compress said chamberpart so as to leave the opposite sheet parts defining the chamber parttherebetween in mutually closely spaced positions, which means that theinner surfaces of the opposite sheet parts do not come into contact witheach other, whereby refilling of the said chamber part with liquidproduct is facilitated.

The dispensing device according to the invention may further comprisemeans for bending the opposite sheet parts defining the dischargepassage therebetween transversely to the general direction of the sheetparts when a discharge operation has been terminated. It has been foundthat such bending of the opposite pouch wall parts defining thedischarge passage may assist the self-sealing effect of the dischargepassage at the junction position.

While the pouch or bag may be positioned in the dispensing device in anysuitable manner which does not adversely affect the self-sealingfunction of the pouch, the pouch positioning means are preferablyadapted to position the pouch or bag such that at least the lower partof the pouch is depending freely, whereby the positioning means does notaffect the self-sealing effect of the pouch. In the preferredembodiment, the positioning means comprise suspending means for engagingwith the upper part of the pouch or bag.

The pouch or bag may be of the type in which the liquid containingchamber is divided into a main chamber and a smaller metering chamber,said chambers being interconnected by a narrow interconnecting passage.In such case the positioning means may comprise means for restrictingthe width of the interconnecting passage so as to secure unrestrictedflow of liquid substance from the main chamber into the meteringchamber. When the width of the interconnecting passage is beingrestricted, the passage is prevented from a attaining a flat position inwhich the opposite passage walls are in mutual contact.

The liquid discharge means may comprise a backing member and a manuallyoperateable pressure member mounted pivotally about a substantiallyhorizontal pivot axis arranged about said chamber part and extendingsubstantially parallel with the central plane of the pouch or bag, thepressure member defining a convex pouch engaging surface having avertical cross-sectional shape substantially defining an obtuse angle.When the pressure member is operated, the vertex of the angle is firstmoved into contact with the pouch, whereby the opposite pouch walls arepinched between a vertex defining edge of the pressure member and theopposite backing member. At the same time, the said edge is movedupwardly, while the backing plate is substantially stationary, so thatthe opposite chamber walls or sheets are mutually displaced so as toassist in opening of the discharge passage of the pouch. Furthermore,the pouch engaging surface preferably comprises a substantially flatlower surface part being substantially vertical in the fully actuatingposition of the pressure member. This means, that the liquid substancecontained in the chamber part is gradually pressed out of that chamberpart by the interaction of the pouch engaging surface and the oppositesurface of the backing member.

The backing member may be resiliently mounted and may also definesubstantially flat pouch backing surface. The resiliency of the backingmember may then determine the maximum pressure being applied to theliquid product within the chamber part

The dispensing device may further comprise means for temporarilypinching the discharge passage of the pouch or bag when a liquiddischarge operation has been terminated. Thereby the opposite sheetparts or wall parts defining the discharge passage may be pressed intomutual contact, so as to avoid undesirable dripping of liquid productfrom the discharge passage after termination of the discharge operation.

In a preferred embodiment, the discharge passage pinching means comprisea raised part or ridge formed at the lower end at the pouch engagingand/or backing surfaces.

The invention will now be further described with reference to thedrawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an empty pouch or bag of the type used inconnection with the dispensing device according to the invention,

FIGS. 2-4 are side views of the lower part of a first embodiment of thedispensing device with a filled pouch mounted therein, the dispensingdevice being shown in different operational positions,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the lower part of a freelydepending pouch filled with a liquid product,

FIGS. 6-8 are side views of a second embodiment of the dispensing deviceshown in different operational positions,

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of the lower part of a third embodiment ofthe dispensing device according to the invention shown in two differentoperational positions,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of pressure and backing plates which maybe used in connection with the dispensing device according to theinvention,

FIGS. 12-15 are diagrammatic side views showing cooperating pressure andbacking plates of a fourth embodiment of the dispensing device accordingto the invention, and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing cooperating pressure and backingplates and the lower end of a pouch made therebetween.

FIG. 1 shows the a pouch or bag 10 which is made from a pair ofoppositely arranged plastic films, which are sealingly interconnectedalong the contour of the pouch. The pouch 10 has an upper marginal heatsealed area 11 having formed therein an upper suspension opening 12positioned on a central symmetry axis 13 of the pouch. A pair of loweroppositely arranged heat sealed areas 14, which interconnect theopposite plastic films, are shaped so as to divide the inner space ofthe pouch into an upper main chamber 15 and a lower smaller chamber 16.The chambers 15 and 16 are interconnected by an interconnecting passage17, and the lower chamber 16 communicates with a downwardly directeddischarge passage 18. A pair of lower suspension openings 19 are formedin the lower heat sealed areas 14 and are positioned irediately abovethe smaller chamber 16 on either side of the symmetry axis 13.

The pouch or bag 10 may be filled with a more or less viscous liquidproduct, and the plastic film or sheet material from which the pouch ismade may, for example, be a 150 μ polyethylene film or a laminate ofpolyethylene and polyester.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate a dispensing device for dispensing metered amountsof liquid product from a pouch 10 of the type shown in FIG. 1. Thedispensing device comprises a frame or housing 20 having an uppersuspension pin or hook 21 (vide FIGS. 6-8) not shown in FIGS. 2-4, and apair of lower suspension pins or hooks 22. When a filled pouch or bag 10is arranged in the dispensing device the upper suspension pin or hook 21is passed through the upper suspension opening 12 and the lowersuspension pins or hooks 22 are passed through the lower suspensionopenings 19 of the pouch or bag. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4,the liquid discharge means of the dispensing device comprise a manuallyoperateable pressure member 23 which is pivotally mounted about asubstantially horizontal pivot axis 24 extending substantially parallelwith the central plane of the pouch 1o suspended in the dispensingdevice. Such central plane is substantially defined by the heat sealedareas 11 and 14. The profile of the pressure member 23 viewed in thedirection of the pivot axis 24 defines an obtuse angle having a vertexor edge 25 and a Free lower end part defining a substantially flatpressure surface 26. The liquid discharge means further comprise abacking member 27 mounted pivotally about a pivot axis 28, and thebacking member 27, which defines a backing surface 29 facing thepressure surface 26, is biased in a direction towards the pressuremember 23 by a spring 30. The lower end of the pouch or bag 10, whichincludes the lower chamber 16 and the discharge passage is, dependsfreely from the lower pins 22 and is positioned between the pressuremember 23 and the backing member 27. A passage opening member 31 ismounted on the frame or housing 20 pivotally about a pivot axis 32. Thepassage opening member 31 is biassed in a direction towards the pressuremember 23 by a spring 33. The lower free end of the passage openingmember 31 is positioned such that it may be moved into contact with theadjacent pouch wall at a position vertically above, but closely adjacentto a junction point or junction position 34 between the chamber 16 andthe discharge passage 18, vide FIG. 1.

The dispensing device according to the present invention is used inconnection with pouches or bags of the self-sealing type. This meansthat when the pouch 10 contains a liquid product and is suspended withthe discharge passage 18 oriented downwardly the stresses created in theflexible sheets or films forming the chamber walls cause the dischargepassage 18 to seal automatically FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates thelower part of a pouch or bag 10, which contains a liquid product andwhich is distended under the influence of the weight of the liquid. Ithas been found that the self-sealing effect is dependent on the angledefined between the lower shoulder at the pouch at the junction position34, and a line extending at right angles to the central axis 13. Thus,the self-sealing effect is increased when the angle β is decreased Thismeans that the sealing effect at the junction position 34 may becounteracted by applying a pressure to the pouch walls adjacent to thejunction position 34 so as to increase the angle β. The operation of thedispensing device shown in FIGS. 2-4 will now be described FIG. 2 showsthe dispensing device in a resting position. A metered amount of liquidproduct may be dispensed from the pouch 10 by manually pushing the lowerfree end 35 in the direction indicated by an arrow 36 in FIG. 2. Theedge 25 of the pressure member 23 will thereby be moved into engagementwith the adjacent side wall of the lower chamber 16 so as to pinch theopposite pouch walls between the edge 25 and the opposite backingsurface 29 (FIG. 3) so as to separate an amount of liquid product fromthe liquid product in the upper part of the pouch 10. Simultaneously,the lower free end of the passage opening member is moved intoengagement with the adjacent wall part of the pouch adjacent to thejunction position 34, whereby the angle β (FIG. 5) is increased so as tocounteract the self-sealing effect. Furthermore, the edge 25 of thepressure member 23 tends to move the adjacent plastic film or sheetupwardly in relation to the opposite film or sheet. Such mutual verticaldisplacement of the opposite plastic films or sheets also tends toreduce the self-sealing effect of the discharge passage 18. When thepressure member 23 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 3 to theposition shown in FIG. 4 the separated liquid amount is pressed outthrough the discharge passage 18. The forces of the springs 30 and 31determine the maximum pressure applied to the lower part of the pouch 10by the pressure and backing members 23 and 27 and by the passage openingmember 31, respectively.

The pressure surface 26 of the pressure member 23 and the backingsurface 29 of the backing member 27 are preferably shaped such that theadjacent inner surfaces of the opposite film or sheet portions, whichare engaged by the pressure and backing surfaces 26 and 29, are notpressed into intimate contact with each other, but remain closely spacedwhen the discharge operation has been terminated. However, the lower rimportion of the backing surface 29 defines a raised part or a ridge 37cooperating with the pressure surface 26 so as to pinch the dischargepassage 18 when the pressure member 26 has been fully actuated and movedto the position shown in FIG. 4. Thereby undesired dripping of liquidproduct from the discharge passage 18 may be avoided after terminationof the discharge operation. The mutual distance between the lower pins22 may be somewhat smaller than the mutual distance between the lowersuspension openings 19 of the pouch 10, whereby unobstructed flow ofliquid product from the main chamber 15 into the lower chamber 16through the interconnecting passage 17 may be secured.

FIGS. 6-8 show a modified embodiment of the dispensing device describedabove with reference to FIGS. 2-4. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8the upper part of the pouch 10 is embraced by a pair of plate members 38and 39 pivotally mounted at their upper ends about a pivot axis 40,which extends substantially parallel with the pivot axes 24 and 28 andwhich is positioned above and adjacent to the upper suspension pin 21.The plate member 39 is biased in a direction towards the pouch 10 by aspring 41, and an extension member 42 forming part of the backing member29 is kept in contact with the outer surface of the plate member 38under the bias of the spring 30. In the resting position illustrated inFIG. 7, the pressure of the spring 30 is balanced by the pressure of thespring 41.

The discharge means of the dispensing device shown in FIGS. 6-8 operatesin substantially the same manner as described above in connection withFIGS. 2-4. In FIGS. 6-8 the passage opening member 31 has been left outIt should be understood, however, that such passage opening member couldadvantageously be included also in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-8.When the lower free end 35 of the pressure member 23 is moved manuallyin the direction indicated by the arrow 36 from the position shown inFIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 7 a metered liquid portion isdischarged through the discharge passage 18 as described above. Suchmovement of the pressure member 23 causes the backing member 27 and itsextension member 42 to move counterclockwise. The counterclockwisemovement of the extension member 42 allows the spring 41 to move theplate member 39, the upper part of the pouch 10, and the plate member 38clockwise to the position shown in FIG. 7. When a metered amount ofliquid product has been discharged, the pressure member 23 is released,and the backing member 27, its extension member 42, the plate members 38and 39, and the upper part of the pouch 10 arranged therebetween aresuddenly moved from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the position shownin FIG. 8 under the bias of the spring 30. This transverse movement ofthe upper part of the pouch 10 and the sudden additional pressureapplied to the pouch 10 by the spring biased plate members 38 and 39cause liquid product to flow from the upper part of the pouch 10 and torefill the lower part of the pouch from which a metered amount of liquidproduct was dispensed during the preceding discharge operation.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a modified embodiment of the discharge meansshown in FIGS. 6-8. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 thelower free end of the pressure member 23 and the backing member 27,respectively, define an angle with the pressure surface 26 and thebacking surface 29, respectively.

When the pressure member 23 has been fully actuated and the dischargeoperation is about to be terminated, the free ends 35 and 43 of thepressure member 23 and the backing member 27, respectively, comes intocontact with the lower pouch part 44 defining the liquid dischargepassage 18, whereby this lower part 44 is bent out of alignment with thecentral plane of the pouch at the end of the discharge operation.Especially when the pouch is made from relatively stiff plastic filmssuch bending causes an efficient sealing of the discharge passage 18.

FIG. 11 illustrates more in detail how the cooperating pressure andbacking surfaces 26 and 27 may be shaped. As shown in FIG. 11 thebacking plate 27 may define a groove 45 therein for receiving the lowerpart 44 of the pouch 10, and a complementary shaped raised part 46 maybe formed on the pressure surface 26. When the pressure member 23 hasbeen fully actuated, the opposite inner walls of the discharge passage18 is pressed into close contact by the raised part 46 and the lower end44 is bent along a line 47 indicated in FIG. 11. However, the pouchwalls received in the groove 45 above the line 47 is pressed into aposition in which they are closely spaced, but not in mutual contact.

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate an embodiment which has been slightly modifiedcompared to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4. Thus, in the embodimentof FIG. 12-16 the lower part 44 of the pouch 10 is not bend out ofalignment with the central plane of the pouch 10 at the end of adischarge operation. However, as best shown in FIG. 16 the lower part 44is received in an axial groove having a cross-sectional shape definingan arc of a circle. In other respects the embodiment shown in FIGS.12-16 operate in substantially the same manner as the embodiment shownin FIGS. 2-4 or in FIGS. 9-11.

should be understood, that various amendments and changes of theembodiments described above with reference to the drawings could be madewithin the scope of the present invention. As an example, plate members38 and 39 or similar members could be used in connection with any of theembodiments described above and shown in the drawings. Similarly, apassage opening member 31 could be combined with any of the embodimentsshown and described.

We claim:
 1. A dispensing device for dispensing metered amounts ofliquid substance from a pouch made from a pair of superposed flexiblesheets sealed together along the contour thereof so as to define betweenthe sheets a chamber for containing the liquid substance and a narrowliquid discharge passage communicating with said chamber at a junctionposition and being selfsealing at that position, said device comprisingmeans for positioning the pouch containing the liquid substance so thatthe discharge passage is downwardly oriented, and liquid discharge meansfor applying a pressure to the liquid substance present in a part of thechamber adjoining the discharge passage so as to discharge an amount ofliquid through said passage, the the liquid discharge means comprisingpassage opening means including means for applying an inwardly directedpressure to one of said flexible sheets forming a chamber wall, closelyadjacent to said junction position so as to increase an angle definedbetween said one flexible sheet and a plane at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the discharge passage.
 2. A dispensing device fordispensing metered amounts of liquid substance from a pouch made from apair of superposed flexible sheets sealed together along the contourthereof so as to device between the sheets a chamber for containing theliquid substance and a narrow liquid discharge passage communicatingwith said chamber at a junction position, said device comprising meansfor positioning the pouch containing the liquid substance so that thedischarge passage is downwardly oriented, liquid discharge means forapplying a pressure to the liquid substance present in a part of thechamber adjoining the discharge passage so as to discharge an amount ofliquid through said passage, and means for bending the opposite sheetparts, which define the discharge passage there between, transverselyinto an angular configuration, when the desired amount of liquid hasbeen discharged.
 3. A dispensing device according to claim 2, furthercomprising means for bending the opposite sheet parts defining thedischarge passage there between transversely to the general direction ofthe sheet parts when a discharge operation has been terminated.
 4. Adispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the pouch positioningmeans are adapted to position the pouch such that at least the lowerpart of the pouch is depending freely.
 5. A dispensing device accordingto claim 2, wherein the pouch is of the type in which the liquidcontaining chamber is divided into a main chamber and a smaller meteringchamber, said chambers being interconnected by a narrow interconnectingpassage, said positioning means comprising means for restricting thewidth of the interconnecting passage so as to ensure unrestricted flowof liquid substance form the main chamber into the metering chamber. 6.A dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid dischargemeans are adapted to pinch the pouch so as to separate said chamber partfrom the remaining part of the chamber along a pinching line and togradually compress said chamber part from the pinching line towards thedischarge passage.
 7. A dispensing device according to claim 6, whereinthe liquid discharge means are adapted to compress said chamber part soas to leave the opposite sheet parts defining the chamber part therebetween in mutually closely spaced positions.
 8. A dispensing deviceaccording to claim 2, further comprising means for temporarily pinchingthe discharge passage of the pouch when a liquid discharge operation hasbeen terminated.
 9. A dispensing device according to claim 8, whereinthe discharge passage pinching means comprise a raised part or ridgeformed at the lower end of the pouch engaging and/or backing surfaces.10. A dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the liquiddischarge means comprise a backing member and a manually operateablepressure member mounted pivotally about a substantially horizontal pivotaxis arranged above said chamber part and extending substantiallyparallel with the central plane of the pouch, the pressure memberdefining a convex pouch engaging surface having a verticalcross-sectional shape substantially defining an obtuse angle.
 11. Adispensing device according to claim 10, wherein the pouch engagingsurface comprises a substantially flat lower surface part beingsubstantially vertical in the fully actuated position of the pressuremember.
 12. A dispensing device according to claim 11, wherein thebacking member is resiliently mounted and defines a substantially flatpouch backing surface.
 13. A dispensing device according to claim 12,wherein the backing member is mounted such that the backing surface issubstantially vertical in the fully actuated position of the pressuremember.
 14. A dispensing device according to claim 12, wherein oppositeparts of the pouch engaging and backing surfaces are transversely spacedin the fully actuated condition of the liquid discharge means.
 15. Adispensing device for dispensing metered amounts of liquid substancefrom a pouch made from a pair of superposed flexible sheets sealedtogether along the contour thereof so as to define between the sheets amain chamber and a smaller metering chamber for containing the liquidsubstance, said chambers being interconnected by an interconnectingpassage, and a narrow liquid discharge passage communicating with themetering chamber at a junction position and being self-sealing at thatposition, said device comprising means for positioning the pouchcontinuing the liquid substance so that the discharge passage isdownwardly oriented, and liquid discharge means for applying a pressureto the liquid substance present in a part of the chamber adjoining thedischarge passage so as to discharge an amount of liquid through saidpassage, the pouch positioning means comprising suspension means forengaging with and securing portions of the pouch at opposite sides ofthe interconnecting passage so that the lower part of the pouch maydepend freely therefrom, the mutual spacing of the suspension meansbeing so small that closing of the interconnecting passage iscounteracted.
 16. A dispensing device according to claim 15, wherein theliquid discharge means comprise passage opening means including meansfor applying an inwardly directed pressure to one of the flexibleforming a chamber wall, closely adjacent to said junction position. 17.A dispensing device according to claim 16, wherein the passage openingmeans further comprise means for mutually displacing the opposite sheetsin an axial direction of the discharge passage.
 18. A dispensing deviceaccording to claim 16, wherein the passage opening means comprises aspring biased lever having a free end portion for applying an pressureto a pouch chamber wall adjacent to the junction position when theliquid discharge means are being actuated.
 19. A dispensing device fordispensing metered amounts of liquid substance from a pouch made from apair of superposed flexible sheets sealed together along the contourthereof so as to define between the sheets a chamber for containing aliquid substance, and a narrow liquid discharge passage communicatingwith said chamber at a junction position, said device comprising meansfor positioning the pouch continuing the liquid substance so that thedischarge passage is downwardly oriented, liquid discharge means forapplying a pressure to the liquid substance present in a part of thechamber adjoining the discharge passage so as to discharge an amount ofliquid through said passage, and means for applying an inwardly directedpressure to and/or for transversely moving the upper part of the pouchwhen a discharge operation has substantially been terminated.
 20. Adispensing device according to claim 19, wherein the pressure and movingmeans comprise a movable abutment member engaging with one of the pouchsheets, the pressure discharge means being adapted to move the abutmentmember and the upper part of the pouch transversely at the end ofdischarge operation.
 21. A dispensing device according to claim 20,wherein the pressure and moving means comprise a pair of moveable,spring biased abutment member engaging with opposite sheets of the upperpart of the pouch.